Patents by Inventor Tomokazu Nakamura

Tomokazu Nakamura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090021602
    Abstract: A normal AWB (auto white balance) correction value is calculated based on inputted image data. Further, a face area is identified from the inputted image data and a face AWB correction value is calculated based on image data in the face area. Then, first feature data and second feature data are extracted from the inputted image data and image data in the face area, respectively. A total AWB correction value is calculated in accordance with at least one of the face AWB correction value and the normal AWB correction value based on a comparison result of the first feature data and the second feature data. Thus, an erroneous correction can be prevented in an AWB correction using a face detection function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya FUJIWARA, Tomokazu NAKAMURA, Kenkichi HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20090008856
    Abstract: A sheet processor includes a holding unit for holding a folded batch of sheets, a pressing member for pressing against a folded portion of the batch of sheets, a nipping member for nipping portions of the batch adjacent to the folded portion so as to nip the batch of sheets from opposite directions, and a casing for supporting the pressing member and the nipping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Daisaku Kamiya, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20090002519
    Abstract: An appropriate white balance coefficient is calculated using an evaluation value of a specific chromaticity or an imaging condition, in addition to face area detection information, in the following manner. A first white balance coefficient is calculated by a first white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a color image, and a second white balance coefficient is calculated by a second white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a specific subject of the color image. Then, a third white balance coefficient is calculated by a white balance combining unit by weighting the first white balance coefficient and the second white balance coefficient based on an evaluation result of a specific chromaticity evaluation unit or an imaging condition of an imaging condition control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: Tomokazu NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20090002518
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method capable of improving illuminant estimation accuracy and performing a stable white balance correction. A specific subject detection unit detects a specific subject having a specific color from assigned image data. A specific chromaticity calculation unit calculates a specific chromaticity from data representing the specific color of the specific subject. Then, a standard chromaticity that approximates to the calculated specific chromaticity is determined from standard chromaticities. A chromaticity difference calculation unit calculates one or more sets of chromaticity difference information representing a chromaticity difference from the determined standard chromaticity to the calculated specific chromaticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: TOMOKAZU NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20080310876
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that are capable of preventing a user or operator from forgetting to carry out a maintenance operation based on required sub-maintenance items after execution of a maintenance operation based on an associated maintenance item, such as component replacement, cleaning, or adjustment. A table of maintenance items and sub-maintenance items associated with respective ones of the maintenance items is stored in a ROM. When a CPU determines that a maintenance operation based on a selected one of the maintenance items has been completed, the CPU determines whether or not there is any sub-maintenance item associated with the selected maintenance item, by referring to the table. When it is determined that there is one or more sub-maintenance items associated with the selected maintenance item, a CPU provides control to display the sub-maintenance item or items in an operating/display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoshi OKAMOTO, Norifumi MIYAKE, Tomokazu NAKAMURA, Kiyoshi WATANABE, Takayuki FUJII, Hitoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20080277857
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is equipped with a process tray on which sheets conveyed are stacked, a return belt which moves the sheets stacked on the process tray, a trailing edge stopper which receives an end portion of the sheets moved by the return belt, and a conveyance assist roller which comes into contact with the sheets on the upstream side of the return belt with respect to the sheet moving direction and imparts a load to the movement of the sheets. The return belt moves the sheets to which a load has been imparted by the conveyance assist roller and causes them to be abutted on the trailing edge stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: WATARU KAWATA, TARO IKEDA, HIROAKI TAKAGISHI, KENICHI HAYASHI, TOMOKAZU NAKAMURA, HIDEKI KUSHIDA, HIROMASA KATAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080253687
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus displays and records any area in a synthesized image according to user's taste. The synthesized image is displayed based on the set display area and the record area is set to display the synthesized image, so that the display area is compared with the record area to enable easily confirming whether the actually acquired synthesized image satisfies the area desired by the user and assisting recording in an area where a better composition is provided even if the user is unfamiliar with the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yitong ZHANG, Takeshi MISAWA, Masaya TAMARU, Masahiko SUGIMOTO, Tomokazu NAKAMURA, Makoto OISHI
  • Publication number: 20080252745
    Abstract: A state-of-eye distinguishing means calculates a feature value that represents a state of an eye, for an eye-area based on pixel data of pixels that constitute the eye-area. A threshold value setting means calculates a first threshold value representing a feature value at a first transition point from an open state to a closed state and a second threshold value representing a feature value at a second transition point from the closed state to the open state, based on a feature value calculated for a targeted eye when the targeted eye is open. A blinking state detection means detects the blinking state of the eye corresponding to the eye-area, by sequentially comparing feature values which are sequentially calculated for a series of frame images by the state-of-eye distinguishing means with one of the first threshold value and the second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 7437093
    Abstract: A sheet-processing system can perform a plurality of jobs in parallel. While process 1 and process 2 are being processed simultaneously, a job display screen is segmented into two such that segmented job display screens for process 1 and process 2 are simultaneously displayed in a touch panel display frame of an operation display. Accordingly, the operation display in the sheet-processing system exhibits good visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Tomokazu Nakamura, Akihiro Sato, Akihiro Shimizu, Tatsuya Goto, Katsuaki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7431274
    Abstract: A sheet processor includes a holding unit for holding a folded batch of sheets, a pressing member for pressing against a folded portion of the batch of sheets, a nipping member for nipping portions of the batch adjacent to the folded portion so as to nip the batch of sheets from opposite directions, and a casing for supporting the pressing member and the nipping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Daisaku Kamiya, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7432297
    Abstract: A compound of the following formula (I) or (II) (in the formula (I), n represents an integer of 0 to 2) (in the formula (II), m represents an integer of 0 to 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tatsumi Nuno, Tomokazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7431273
    Abstract: A sheet bundle spine folded portion flattening apparatus is provided with a conveying portion which conveys the folded sheet bundle with the spine folded portion of the folded sheet bundle at a head, a sheet bundle moving device for moving it in a direction along the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle, and a pressing device for pressing the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle being moved by the sheet bundle moving device, and is adapted to press and flatten the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle being moved by the sheet bundle moving device, by the pressing device and therefore, can flatten the spine folded portion almost without stopping the movement of the sheet bundle, as compared with the conventional art, and the sheet bundle treating efficiency is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Hideki Kushida, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7429037
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is equipped with a process tray on which sheets conveyed are stacked, a return belt which moves the sheets stacked on the process tray, a trailing edge stopper which receives an end portion of the sheets moved by the return belt, and a conveyance assist roller which comes into contact with the sheets on the upstream side of the return belt with respect to the sheet moving direction and imparts a load to the movement of the sheets. The return belt moves the sheets to which a load has been imparted by the conveyance assist roller and causes them to be abutted on the trailing edge stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Patent number: 7426042
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that are capable of preventing a user or operator from forgetting to carry out a maintenance operation based on required sub-maintenance items after execution of a maintenance operation based on an associated maintenance item, such as component replacement, cleaning, or adjustment. A table of maintenance items and sub-maintenance items associated with respective ones of the maintenance items is stored in a ROM. When a CPU determines that a maintenance operation based on a selected one of the maintenance items has been completed, the CPU determines whether or not there is any sub-maintenance item associated with the selected maintenance item, by referring to the table. When it is determined that there is one or more sub-maintenance items associated with the selected maintenance item, a CPU provides control to display the sub-maintenance item or items in an operating/display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Norifumi Miyake, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Takayuki Fujii, Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7410156
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Publication number: 20080143034
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked and subjected to a processing, a stack tray provided in the downstream of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction on which sheets are to be stacked, an oscillation roller pair for conveying the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray, and a trailing edge assist for conveying the sheet stacked on the processing tray toward the stack tray. The sheets stacked on the processing tray are discharged to the stack tray by the oscillation roller pair and the trailing edge assist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicants: Canon Finetech Inc., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Yoshinori Isobe, Toshimasa Suzuki, Masatoshi Yaginuma, Masahiro Yonenuma, Atsushi Takada, Norio Motoi
  • Publication number: 20080136083
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Naoto Watanabe, Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato, Shunsuke Nishimura, Tetsuya Terada, Yasutaka Iwasa, Daisuke Matsukura, Norio Motoi, Masayoshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 7380779
    Abstract: A sheet processing system comprises a plurality of sheet processing devices, a primary sheet conveyance path, a secondary sheet conveyance path, and a controller which controls the sheet processing devices. The controller uses the primary sheet conveyance path to execute one job, and uses the secondary sheet conveyance path to execute another job in parallel with that one job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Akihiro Sato, Akihiro Shimizu, Tatsuya Goto, Katsuaki Hirai, Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 7354036
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Naoto Watanabe, Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato, Shunsuke Nishimura, Tetsuya Terada, Yasutaka Iwasa, Daisuke Matsukura, Norio Motoi, Masayoshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 7354034
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked and subjected to a processing, a stack tray provided in the downstream of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction on which sheets are to be stacked, an oscillation roller pair for conveying the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray, and a trailing edge assist for conveying the sheet stacked on the processing tray toward the stack tray. The sheets stacked on the processing tray are discharged to the stack tray by the oscillation roller pair and the trailing edge assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Yoshinori Isobe, Toshimasa Suzuki, Masatoshi Yaginuma, Masahiro Yonenuma, Atsushi Takada, Norio Motoi